ScienceDaily: Environmental Policy News

Pinpointing how nature's benefits link to human well-being

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:03:03 EDT

What people take from nature -- water, food, timber, inspiration, relaxation -- are so abundant, it seems self-evident. Until you try to quantitatively understand how and to what extent they contribute to humans.

More emphasis needed on recycling and reuse of Li-ion batteries

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:20:20 EDT

The discovery of potential environmental and human health effects from disposal of millions of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries each year has led scientists to recommend stronger government policies to encourage recovery, recycling and reuse of lithium-ion battery materials.

Changing Arctic: What should be done?

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:57:57 EDT

In two critical reports released at the Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in Kiruna, Sweden on May 15th, scientists helped inform an international body of senior government officials about changing conditions in the Arctic, and potential responses to those changes.

Scientific consensus on anthropogenic climate change

Wed, 15 May 2013 20:30:30 EDT

A comprehensive analysis of peer-reviewed articles on the topic of global warming and climate change has revealed an overwhelming consensus among scientists that recent warming is human-caused.

World's most extraordinary species mapped for the first time

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:44:44 EDT

The black-and-white ruffed lemur, Mexican salamander and Sunda pangolin all feature on the first map of the world's most unique and threatened mammals and amphibians.

Helping forests gain ground on climate change

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:50:50 EDT

Researchers in Canada have developed guidelines being used by foresters and the timber industry to get a jump on climate change when planting trees.

As Canada takes Arctic Council helm, experts stress north's vulnerability to spills, emergencies

Mon, 13 May 2013 08:33:33 EDT

It is crucial that northern nations strengthen response capabilities to shipping-related accidents foreseen in newly-opened northern waters, as well as to more-common local emergencies such as floods, forest fires and rescue situations, experts say.

Climate change will cause widespread global-scale loss of common plants and animals, researchers predict

Sun, 12 May 2013 14:09:09 EDT

Climate change will cause widespread global-scale loss of common plants and animals. More than half of common plants and one third of the animals could see a dramatic decline this century due to climate change, according to new research. The study looked at 50,000 globally widespread and common species and found that more than one half of the plants and one third of the animals will lose more than half of their climatic range by 2080 if nothing is done to reduce the amount of global warming and slow it down.

New Red List developed for threatened ecosystems

Wed, 08 May 2013 17:21:21 EDT

Scientists have developed a new Red List system for identifying ecosystems at high risk of degradation, similar to the influential Red List for the world's threatened species.

Setting the standard for sustainable bioenergy crops

Wed, 08 May 2013 17:19:19 EDT

Bioenergy crops, such as Miscanthus and switchgrass, appear to be promising resources for renewable energy, but these new crops did not come with a manual on how to measure details on their sustainability impacts.

Madagascar tortoise trafficking rages out of control

Thu, 02 May 2013 11:55:55 EDT

Illegal trafficking of two critically endangered tortoise species from Madagascar has reached epidemic proportions.

Progress in introducing cleaner cook stoves for billions of people worldwide

Wed, 01 May 2013 11:28:28 EDT

It may be the 21st century, but nearly half the world's population still cooks and heats with open fires or primitive stoves that burn wood, animal dung, charcoal and other polluting solid fuels. A new article describes impressive progress being made to remedy that situation and the obstacles that remain.

'Dirty dozen' invasive species threaten UK

Wed, 01 May 2013 09:18:18 EDT

Parts of the UK are at greater risk of invasion by non-native aquatic species than previously thought, according to new research. The first to include human factors in models used to predict where invasive species will arrive and spread, the study shows the Thames, Anglian and Humber river basins are most vulnerable.

Agencies should use common approach to evaluate risks pesticides pose to endangered species

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:16:16 EDT

When determining the potential effects pesticides could pose to endangered or threatened species, the US Environmental Protection Agency, National Marine Fisheries Service, and Fish and Wildlife Service should use a common scientific approach, says a new report.

Shifting the burden of recycling

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:15:15 EDT

Over the past two decades governments around the world have been experimenting with a new strategy for managing waste. By making producers responsible for their products when they become wastes, policy makers seek to significantly increase the recycling -- and recyclability -- of computers, packaging, automobiles, and household hazardous wastes such as batteries, used oil motor, and leftover paint -- and save money in the process.

U. S. has surprisingly large reservoir of crop plant diversity

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:35:35 EDT

North America isn’t known as a hotspot for crop plant diversity, yet a new inventory has uncovered nearly 4,600 wild relatives of crop plants in the United States, including close relatives of globally important food crops such as sunflower, bean, sweet potato, and strawberry.

The politics of climate change

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:05:05 EDT

US residents who believe in the scientific consensus on global warming are more likely to support government action to curb emissions, regardless of whether they are Republican or Democrat, according to a new study.

Europe needs genetically engineered crops, scientists say

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:26:26 EDT

The European Union cannot meet its goals in agricultural policy without embracing genetically engineered crops. That's the conclusion of scientists based on case studies showing that the EU is undermining its own competitiveness in the agricultural sector to its own detriment and that of its humanitarian activities in the developing world.

Scientists advocate a simple, affordable and accurate technology to identify threats from sea-level rise

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:14:14 EDT

Researchers are calling for the global adoption of a method to identify areas that are vulnerable to sea-level rise. The method, which utilizes a simple, low-cost tool, is financially and technically accessible to every country with coastal wetlands. The team seeks to establish a network to coordinate the standardization and management of the data, as well as to provide a platform for collaboration.

A simple solution to air pollution from wood-burning cookstoves

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:26:26 EDT

Wood-burning cookstoves, used by millions of people worldwide, cause air pollution, disease and death. A team of university students studied the problem and came up with a simple, low-cost solution: better ventilation.

Scientists reveals escalating cost of forest conservation

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:23:23 EDT

New research illustrates how changes to farming could dramatically increase future costs of conservation.

Health impact assessments prove critical public health tool: Best way to gauge impact of gas drilling on communities

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:57:57 EDT

As natural gas drilling expands, policymakers, communities and public health experts are turning to health impact assessments to predict the effects of gas drilling on communities, according to a new study.

Nitrogen has key role in estimating carbon dioxide emissions from land use change

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:07:07 EDT

A new global-scale modeling study that takes into account nitrogen -- a key nutrient for plants -- estimates that carbon emissions from human activities on land were 40 percent higher in the 1990s than in studies that did not account for nitrogen. Plant regrowth -- and therefore carbon assimilation by plants -- is limited by nitrogen availability, causing other studies to overestimate regrowth and underestimate net emissions from the harvest-regrowth cycle.

'First step' in addressing effects of climate change

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:44:44 EDT

A new report on potential effects of climate change uses existing observations and science-based expectations to identify how climate change could affect habitats, plants and animals within the sanctuary and adjacent coastal areas.

Half of Tamiflu prescriptions went unused during 2009 H1N1 swine flu pandemic, UK sewage study

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:59:59 EDT

A new study concludes that approximately half of the prescriptions of Tamiflu during the 2009-10 influenza pandemic went unused in England. The unused medication represents approximately 600,000 courses of Tamiflu at a cost of around £7.8 million to the UK taxpayer. The finding comes from the first study of its kind to use sewage water to estimate drug compliance rates.

Biodiversity crisis: The impacts of socio-economic pressures on natural floras and faunas

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:23:23 EDT

A new study on extinction risk has shown that proportions of plant and animal species being classified as threatened on national Red Lists are more closely related to socioeconomic pressure levels from the beginning than from the end of the 20th century.

Resurgence of endangered deer in Patagonian ‘Eden’ highlights conservation success

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:51:51 EDT

The Huemul, a species of deer found only in the Latin American region of Patagonia, is bouncing back from the brink of possible extinction.

Escalating cost of forest conservation

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:51:51 EDT

In the face of unprecedented deforestation and biodiversity loss, policy makers are increasingly using financial incentives to encourage conservation.

The future of our energy

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:48:48 EDT

When it comes to sustainable energy supplies hydroelectric plants are usually the best solution, according to researchers who have reviewed the economic, social and environmental impact of fuel provision.

Cutting specific pollutants would slow sea level rise, research indicates

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 19:31:31 EDT

With coastal areas bracing for rising sea levels, new research indicates that cutting emissions of certain pollutants can greatly slow down sea level rise. Reductions in the four pollutants that cycle comparatively quickly through the atmosphere could forestall the rate of sea level rise by roughly 25 to 50 percent.

Carbon dioxide removal can lower costs of climate protection

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:24:24 EDT

Directly removing carbon dioxide from the air has the potential to alter the costs of climate change mitigation. It could allow prolonging greenhouse-gas emissions from sectors like transport that are difficult, thus expensive, to turn away from using fossil fuels. And it may help to constrain the financial burden on future generations, a new study shows.

'Sustainable fishing' certification too lenient and discretionary

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:49:49 EDT

The certification of seafood as “sustainable” by the nonprofit Marine Stewardship Council is too lenient and discretionary, a study by a consortium of researchers has found.

Smart solutions to a worsening water crisis

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:41:41 EDT

Innovative policies and new technologies that reduce water waste are helping countries across the Middle East and North Africa deal with chronic water shortages.

Limiting greenhouse gas emissions from land use in Europe

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:27:27 EDT

New research estimates future land use emissions for the European Union, showing that Europe could potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions from land use by more than 60 percent by 2050.

New emissions standards would fuel shift from coal to natural gas

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:48:48 EDT

Tougher EPA air-quality standards could spur an increased shift away from coal and toward natural gas for electricity generation, according to a new study. Complying with stricter regulations on sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, nitrogen oxide and mercury may make nearly two-thirds of the U.S. coal-fired power plants as expensive to run as plants powered by natural gas. The regulations would make 65 percent of U.S. coal plants as expensive as natural gas, even if gas prices rise significantly.

Trade emerging as a key driver of Brazilian deforestation

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:52:52 EDT

A new study found that trade and global consumption of Brazilian beef and soybeans is increasingly driving Brazilian deforestation. Consequently, current international efforts to protect rainforests (e.g., REDD) may be undermined by the increased trade and consumption.

Experts propose research priorities for making concrete 'greener'

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:28:28 EDT

According to a new report, the potential engineering performance, energy-efficiency and environmental benefits of making concrete greener -- reducing its sizable carbon footprint without compromising performance -- is a challenge worth undertaking.

'A better path' toward projecting, planning for rising seas on a warmer Earth

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:14:14 EDT

More useful projections of sea level are possible despite substantial uncertainty about the future behavior of massive ice sheets. In two recent articles, researchers present an approach that provides a consistent means to integrate the potential contribution of continental ice sheets such as Greenland and Antarctica into sea-level rise projections.

Can synthetic biology save wildlife? From re-creating extinct species to the risk of genetically modified super-species

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:25:25 EDT

What effects will the rapidly growing field of synthetic biology have on the conservation of nature? The ecological and ethical challenges stemming from this question will require a new and continuing dialogue between members of the synthetic biology and biodiversity conservation communities, according to authors of a new paper.

Surveying roads at 100 km/h

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:12:12 EDT

Germany's road network has a hard time dealing with wind and weather, tires and steel. Until now, however, surveying the damage caused to asphalt and concrete was laborious and expensive. A new laser scanner is cheaper, faster and more precise.

Southern California sagebrush better suited to climate change, study finds

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 13:21:21 EDT

California sagebrush in the southern part of the state will adjust better to climate change than sagebrush populations in the north, according to researchers.

Americans back preparation for extreme weather and sea-level rise

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 09:06:06 EDT

The majority of Americans express support for stronger coastal development codes, according to a new survey.

What role do small dams play in pollution control?

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 09:06:06 EDT

There is a crucial need to gain a better understanding of what small dams mean for our water quality before they crumble and disappear.

Climate change likely to worsen threat of diarrheal disease in Botswana

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:16:16 EDT

Climate drives a large part of diarrheal disease in Sub-Saharan Africa and makes communities vulnerable to climate change, according to new research.

Climate models are not good enough, researcher argues

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 09:35:35 EDT

Only a few climate models were able to reproduce the observed changes in extreme precipitation in China over the last 50 years.

Losing wetlands to grow crops

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 20:18:18 EDT

Getting enough to eat is a basic human need – but at what cost to the environment? New research demonstrates that as their crops on higher ground fail due to unreliable rainfall, people in countries like Uganda are increasingly relocating to wetland areas. Unless the needs of these people are addressed in a more sustainable way, overuse of wetland resources through farming, fishing, and hunting will continue.

Seabirds need effective marine conservation in wake of discard ban, warns study

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:54:54 EDT

Conservationists have renewed urgent calls for effective marine protection in European waters, after a new study revealed that the recent EU ban on fish discards could have a significant short-term impact on some seabirds.

Natural climate swings contribute more to increased monsoon rainfall than global warming

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:52:52 EDT

Natural swings in the climate have significantly intensified Northern Hemisphere monsoon rainfall, showing that these swings must be taken into account for climate predictions in the coming decades.

Sustainable Development Goals must sustain people and planet, experts say

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:52:52 EDT

Scientists are arguing for a set of six Sustainable Development Goals that link poverty eradication to protection of Earth's life support. The researchers argue that in the face of increasing pressure on the planet's ability to support life, adherence to out-dated definitions of sustainable development threaten to reverse progress made in developing countries over past decades.

Restoration and recommendations for flood-damaged bottomlands

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:27:27 EDT

Although the 2012 drought in the Midwest may have dimmed the memories for some of the 2011 Ohio and Mississippi River flood, engineers, landowners, conservationists, crop scientists and soil scientists haven't forgotten. They are working hard to repair levees and restore the flood damaged Birds Point-New Madrid floodway in preparation for the next big flood which will eventually happen.

Petroleum use, greenhouse gas emissions of automobiles could drop 80 percent by 2050: U.S. report

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:16:16 EDT

A new report finds that by the year 2050, the United States may be able to reduce petroleum consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent for light-duty vehicles -- cars and small trucks -- via a combination of more efficient vehicles; the use of alternative fuels like biofuels, electricity, and hydrogen; and strong government policies to overcome high costs and influence consumer choices.

Conservationists call for radical change to ‘war on poaching’

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:50:50 EDT

Widespread extinction of highly endangered and valued species will occur without a radical change to the way the wildlife trade is being handled across the world, according to conservation scientists.

Mitigating climate change? Guiding responsible research in geoengineering

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:10:10 EDT

Geoengineering, the use of human technologies to alter the Earth's climate system — such as injecting reflective particles into the upper atmosphere to scatter incoming sunlight back to space — has emerged as a potentially promising way to mitigate the impacts of climate change. But such efforts could present unforeseen new risks. Scientists outline how the current deadlock on governance of geoengineering research poses real threats to the sound management of climate risk. Their article advances concrete and actionable proposals for allowing further research -- but not deployment -- and for creating scientific and legal guidance, as well as addressing public concerns.

Discards ban could impact seabird populations

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:16:16 EDT

Species of seabirds could successfully return to their natural foraging habits following changes to European fisheries policies, scientists have suggested.

CITES makes historic decision to protect sharks and rays

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:02:02 EDT

CITES plenary today accepted Committee recommendations to list five species of highly traded sharks under the CITES Appendices, along with those for the listing of both manta rays and one species of sawfish.

Gorillas caught in the crossfire in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:19:19 EDT

The world’s leading conservation organizations have joined together to fight for the survival of the Endangered Grauer’s or eastern lowland gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri).

Researchers map out an alternative energy future for New York

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:26:26 EDT

A new study outlines a path to statewide renewable energy conversion, and away from natural gas and imported fuel.

Ground-level ozone falling faster than model predicted

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 12:39:39 EDT

While dangerous ozone levels have fallen with reductions in emissions from vehicles and industry, a new study suggests a model widely used to predict the impact of remediation efforts has been too conservative.

'Marshall Plan' for African wildlife?

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 10:34:34 EST

African lions and villagers would benefit from fences to protect them from each other, according to a new study.

'Climate-smart strategies' proposed for spectacular US-Canadian landscape

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 19:06:06 EST

A new report creates a conservation strategy that will promote wildlife resiliency in the Southern Canadian Rockies to the future impacts of climate change and road use. The report's "safe passages and safe havens" were informed in part by an assessment of six iconic species -- bull trout, westslope cutthroat trout, grizzly bears, wolverines, mountain goats and bighorn sheep -- five of which were ranked as highly vulnerable to projected changes.